Apparatus for refining petroleum



(No Model.)

G. F. GRADY. APPARATUS FOR REFINING' PETROLEUM.

Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

ANDFM BVGRANAM.PHUYD-LMIQWASHINQONJ C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. GRADY, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

APPARATUS FOR REFINING PETROLEUM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,412, dated March 17, 1896.

Application filed Tune 19, 1895.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES F. GRADY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Refining Petroleum, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in the method of and apparatus for refining crude petroleum.

It has for its objects, among others, to provide simple and efficient means for carrying out the process whereby the distillation and concentration of the crude petroleum and its products may be carried out, and employing superheated steam for heating the oil to be distilled or concentrated, such distillation to be continuous or non-continuous, as may be desired.

A further object is to provide for the removal of the residuum without the necessity of stopping the apparatus or cleaning out the stills and recharging them.

Still a further object is to provide a condenser or condensers for the vapor generated in the still.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one form of apparatus for carrying out my method, which drawings, with the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section through two of the stills and the pipes therein. Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section showing the pipes of one of the stills, the latter being broken away. Fig. 3 is a detail in elevation showing the separator on the condenser-pipe. Fig. lis a diagrammatic view.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several Views in which they appear.

Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the still, of which there are shown but two in Fig. 1, although of course it will be understood that the number may be increased to any desired extent. In fact, in practice it may be found more desirable to use at all times more than two, but

Serial No. 553,334. (No model.)

two will be sufficient for a full understanding of my invention.

The stills may be of any desired capacity and shape, )referably cylindrical, as shown. The crude petroleum or other oil to be distilled or concentrated is to be pumped or otherwise forced into the first still of the battery through a feed-pipe B, adapted to be connected with any suitable source of supply, and which, entering at any suitable point on the still, extends within the still below the oil-line thereof, as indicated in Fig. 1, and from this pipe eX- tend the lateral branches B which connect with the perforated pipes B extending lengthwise of the still, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, and which pipes are provided with small perforations, as seen in Fig. 2. These perforated pipes are for the purpose of securing an equal distribution of the oil as it enters the still and which has been heated as near its boilingpoint as practicable before being introduced to said still.

0 is a pipe designed to be connected with any suitable source of supply and designed to conduct superheated steam into the still, said pipe entering the same at any suitable point and connected with lateral branches 0', which support and communicate with the perforated pipes C extending lengthwise of the still, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, and arranged upon a plane somewhat lower than the perforated oil-supply pipes, as seen best in Fig. 1. These perforations are to be arranged at equal distances apart, so as to secure equal distribution of heat. All of the stills in the battery are provided with similar sets of pipes, the second still, that on the right in Fig. 1, being shown as thus fitted. The oil not evaporated in the first still is caused to pass into each successive still from the bottom of the preceding still, as through a pipe D, which runs lengthwise of the still near the bottom thereof, and having openings of suitable size, as indicated at d in Fig. 2, upon the under :side thereof, for the purpose of taking the oil equally throughout the length of the stillf This pipe has an outlet 01 extending through the bottom of the still, where it communicates with the transverse pipe D,which enters the next succeeding still through the bottom and connects with the vertical pipe D with which are connected the lateral branches D which support and communicate withthe longitudinal pipes D as seen at the right of Fig. 1, and which are perforated similar to the pipes B as shown in the still 011 the left of Fig. 1. This pipe D extends above the perforated steam-supply pipes, and these pipes are all arranged in substantially the same relation with the same as are the pipes in the still shown at the left of Fig. 1. Should it be desired to connect more than two stills in the battery, the connection between the second and the third would be the same as shown in Fig. 1 between the first and the second and so on, each still being. provided with its steam-supply pipe and lateral branches and longitudinally-perforated steam-pipes. The size of pipesand character of openings may be varied as occasion may require. Such oil, tar or other residuum as is not evaporatedin the last still of the series may be caused to passoif through a suitable pipe (not shown) connected so as to maintain any desired level in the still.

A are the domes of the stills.

The vapor arising from the oil in. the still by the passage of the superheated steam therethrough passes off from the domes of the stills through a suit. ble condenser, preferably in the form of a condensing-coil of well-kn own construction and operation,which it is not deemed necessary to herein lllHSiJlELtG ordescribe. This coil or condenser is provided at a suitable distance from the still with a separator for the purpose of drawing off that part of the vapor which may be condensed at this point. The obje of this separator is to permit of more rapid distillation without injuring the quality of the distillate, the heavier portion being drawn off before that which is lighter hasbeen condensed.

E is aportion of the condensing-coil leading from the still. This has a drop or depending tube or portion E communicating with the pipe E The condensed vapor drops into the pipe E and passes off through the pipe E to a suitable receptacle or receiving box. The vapor not condensed at this point passes along through the pipe E", and after being condensed is conducted into asuitable receptacle. All of the stills are designed to be connected in a like manner. The distance of the separator from the still will depend upon the gravity it is desired to make from each still and on the temperature of the bath.

For non-continuous distillation or concentration the interior connections of the still would be practically the same as those shown in the first still, except that the dischargepipe D and its connections would be removed. This still is designed to be filled to its full charging capacity and more oil to be gradually added in the same manner as inthe continuous process above described, after the naphtha has been nearly all removed from the original charge, and continued until the full charging capacity is again reached. The

condenser of this still should be supplied with one or more separators placed at a suitable distance from the still and the pipe E of each connected to a pipe leading to the receiving box, each of said pipes to be provided with a valve, (not shown,) so that one or more may be used as required.

This invention also provides for the redistillation of such of the heavier products of these stills as it maybe desirable to redistill, which is accomplished by connecting thepipe of such separators as are removing these heavier products with a. separator, the purpose of which is to remove the condensed steam. or other water from this distillate, and may be of the kind usually used for this purpose, and which connects with pipe D of any preceding still in such a way that the oil may pass into and through any desired still. and succeeding stills until the product has become of the desired gravity.

Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

That I claim as new is- 1. The combination with a still, of an oilsupply pipe leading thereinto and connected with perforated longitudinally-disposed pipes, a steam-supply pipe entering the still and extended to apointnear the bottom thereof and communicating with longitudinallydisposed perforated pipes, a. second still, a discharge-pipe disposed 1o 11 gitudin ally within the first still and having perforations upon its under side and leading into the second still and extended above the point of steamsupply in said second still, and perforated longitudinally-disposed pipes and branch pipes supported by the same, substantially as specified.

2. The combination with a still, of an oilsupply pipe leading thereinto and connected with perforated longitudinally-disposed pipes, a steam-supply pipe entering the still and extended to a point near the bottom thereof and communicating with longitudinallydisposed perforated pipes, and a longitudinally-disposed discharge-pipe having perforations upon its under side, substantially as specified.

3. The combination with a still its oil-supply pipe leading thereinto and having perforated branches and the steam-supply pipe extended below the oil-supply pipe and having perforated branches, of a second still having a steam-supply pipe with perforated branches, and a discharge-pipe from the first still perforated upon its under side and conimu nicating with and extending into the second still at a point above the perforated branches of the steam-supply pipe thereof and having perforated branches, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHAS. F. GRADY. \Vitnesses:

THOMAS XV. HARRIS, F. L. GRADY. 

